Engine starter



@en 19 192e. Y 1,603,566

M. P. WHITNEY ENGINE STARTER Filed ugusfl 18, 1922 Y j@ j VMM/m, .www

Patented Oct. 19, 1926.

UNITED STATES 1,663,566 PATENT OFFICE.

MAURICE P. WHITNEY, OF ELMIRA, yNEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO ECLIPSE MACHINECOMPANY, 0F EIMIRA, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ENGINE STARTER.

My invention relates to engine starters and more particularly to4 thedrive or transmission between the starting motor and a member of theengine to be started, such as the flywheel thereof. My invention isshown and will be hereinafter described in connection with awell-known'type of drive as exemplied in Bendix Patent No. 1,125,935issued on January 26th, 1915. The object of my invention is to providemeans whereby a maximum or over-all length of drive may be maintainedindependently of the usual drive spring, thereby maintaining apredetermined length of drive without interfering with the action'of thedrive spring with respect to its usual functions. Speaking in generalterms, I accomplish this result by providing means such as a sleeve onthe driving head and connecting such sleeve with one end of therotatable member or screw shaft in such a manner as to permit of freerotary movement between such sleeve and shaft and also a limitedlongitudinal movement, one with respect to the other. By this connectionbetween the shaft and sleeve, the outward longitudinal movement islimited or predetermined and the necessity for dependence upon thespring forthe maintenance of maximum length of drive is eliminated.

In the drawing Fig. 1 is an elevation partly in section of a 'driveembodying my invention; Fig. 2 longitudinal section thereof; Fig. 3 anend view of the engaging end of thesleeve; Fig. 4 a plan view thereof;Fig. 5 a perspective of the end of the sleeve shown in Fig. 4; Fig. 6 asection of a second sleeve cooperating with the first sleeve; and Fig.

7 a detail view of the outer end of the screw shaft.

While I have shown my invention 1n connection with a type of drivedisclosed generally in said Bendix patent, it will be understood that myinvention is not limited to that particular construction, which isselected for the purpose of a clear and definite description of suchinvention. Moreover, While I have shown my invention 1n connection withadrive of the type known as the inboard, it will be understoodl that itis equally applicable to the outboard type. Furthermore, while I haveshown the driving member or pinion as made in two parts, such as apinion lroper and a control member or nut, it will e understood that thesingle structure pinion such as shown in said patent might be employedin so far as my invention herein is concerned.

As shown, the starting motor 1 has an extended armature shaft 2 on whichthe ldrive is mounted 4and to which it is secured. This drive comprisesa screw shaft 3 on which is mounted a pinion proper marked 4 and a nut 5cooperating therewith, a driving head 6 and a` coiled drive spring 7secured at its opposite ends to such driving head and to the driven head8 of the screw shaft by means ofthe bolts or studs 9 and 10.v Thestructure described is the usual well-known type of drive abovementioned. In view of the fact that distortion of the spring, such asresults from the starting operation, tends to 'elongate it, the over-alllength of the drive cannot be maintained except in so far as there is atendencylof the spring to maintain it, which however, gives a variablelength due to different ydegrees of elongation of the spring.

' In order to maintain a predetermined maximum length of drive, Iprovide the fol lowing means: To the driving head 6 I secure, preferablyby the .b.olt '-9,. a. sleeve which has a cylindrical base portion and asubstantially conical upper portion. In practice, this sleeve has acylindrical base portion 11 anda cylindrical upper or inner portion 1'2joined by a conical portion 13. This sleeve is located within the coilsof the drive spring and its upper or inner portion is 'adapted to beconnected in peculiar manner to the outer end 'fof the screw shaft. Asshown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the sleeve is provided with any inturnedmarginal flange 14 extending somewhat more than half the circumferenceof the sleeve and is also provided with a side slot 15 which entersbehind the flange 14. The screw shaft is provided at its outer end witha. circumferential fiange '16, thereby forming between it and the drivenhead 8, a wide groove 17. This flange 16' is of a size as to enter theside slot 15 of the sleeve and to then take its position behind theflange 14 of such sleeve. This particular construction is required forthe ready assembling of the sleeve and shaft and for the proper rela-`tive rotary movements of these parts and the relative longitudinalmovement thereof'. In order to hold the sleeve and shaft in theirassembled nosition'I employ suitable means such as a second sleeveycomprising a cylindrical portion 18 and a conical portion 19, sloping ina direction opposite that of the conical portion 14 of the first sleeve.This second sleeve is secured to the screw shaft in suitable manner asby means of the bolt 10 which secures one end of the drive spring to theshaft.

After the sleeves and screw shaft have been assembled as aboveexplained, the drive spring is assembled by securing it to the shaft bypassing the bolt 10 through its forward eye and through the secondsleeve and securing it into the shaft. In case of an inboardinstallation as herein shown, the drive, without the driving head 6 isplaced upon the armature shaft, and the. sleeve l1 is pushed forwardlyonto the shaft in order to make room for the insertion of the usual key2O which in addition to the sciew 9 secures such head and armature shafttogether. The driving head 6 is th-ereupon pushed along the armatureshaft and over the key and the bolt 9 thereupon inserted through theother eye of the spring and through the sleeve 1l and screwed into thedriving head 6. In case of an outboard installation the assembly issomewhat different. In this case the driving head 6 is placed on thearmature shaft in usual manner and the remainder of the drive is placedon the armature shaft and the screw hole in suoli head is lined up withthe hole through the sleeve 11 and the eye of the drive spring. Thescrew o r bolt 9 is then inserted and screwed into the drive head.

In operation, the screw shaft is permitted to move longitudinally in theusual and well-known manner, for purposes of meshing, therebycompressing the drive spring in the usual manner, at which time thesleeve 18 will slide upon the outer cylindrical portion l2 of the othersleeve. `When the drive spring deflects due yto load, it tends toelongate, which would increase the length of the drive exceptifor theconstruction of the first mentioned sleeve and the screw shaft, inasmuchas such lengthening or elongation is prevented by Contact of the 'Hanges14 and 16.

When the drive spring deflects due to torque in cranking the engine,space is provided for such spring to wrap down, such space beingprovided in the present instance by dproviding the two sleeves with thebevele or conical portions.

1. An engine starter drive formed as a unitary structure includingr arotatable member,a driving head, said head and rotatable member having arelative movement inwardly toward and outwardly away from each other. adrive spring between such head and rotatable member, and meansconstituting a part of said unitary structure and adapted Locate@ tolimit said outward movement of the head and rotatable member-to thenormal extended length of the drive.

2. An engine starter drive including a rotatable member, a driving head,said head and rotatable member having a relative movement inwardlytoward and outwardly away from each other, a drive spring between suchhead and rotatable member, and means for limiting said outward movementof the head and rotatable member, said means comprising an elementcooperating with said head and rotatable member, the latter having alimited sliding movement with respect to said. ele-ment.

3. An engine starter drive including a rotatable member, a driving head,said head and rotatable member having a relative movement inwardlytoward and outwardly away from each other, a drive spring between suchhead and rotatable member,

and means for limiting said outward movement of the head and rotatablemember, said means comprising a sleeve secured ixedly to he head andloosely to the rotatable mem- 4. An engine starter drive including arotatable member, a driving head, said head and rotatable member havinga relative movement inwardly toward and outwardly away from each other,a drive spring between such head and rotatable member, and means forlimiting said outward movement of the head and rotatable member, saidmeans comprising a sleeve secured iXedly to the head and loosely to thelrotatable member and having a detachable connection at its inner endwhich limits the outward movenient of the sleeve and rotatable member,one with respect to the other.

5. An engine starter drive formed asa unitary structure includingdriving and driven elements, a torsion spring connecting between the twoelements, said elements being movable towards and away from each other,and means constituting a part of said unitary structure and adapted tonormally maintain a maximum distance of separation between saidelements. 6. An engine starter drive including driving. and drivenelements, a torsion drive spring connecting between the two elements,said elements being movable towards and away from each other, and meansfor maintaining a maximum distance of separation between the elements,said means comprising a sleeve secured'to one of the elements andloosely connected with the other element to permit limited axialmovement of one of the elements with respect to the other elemani..

7. engine starter drive includin a rotatable member, a driving head,said head and rotatable member having a relative movement inwardlytoward and outwardly lUU ltitl dit neoasee away from each other, a drivespring between such head and rotatable member, and means `for limitingsaid outward movement ot' the head and rotatable member, said meanscomprising a sleeve secured lixedly to the head and loosel 'anddetachably connected with the rotata lemember to permit limited axialmovement of the rotatable member with respect to said head.

8. An engine starter drive including a rotatable member, a driving head,said head and rotatable member having a relative movement inwardlytoward and outwardlyl away from each other, a drive spring between suchhead and rotatable member, and

means for limiting said outward movementI of the head and rotatablemember, said means comprising a sleeve secured to the head and providedat one end with a flange for a portion of its circumference and witl; aside slot 'adjacent such flange, said rotatable member havin a angeadapted to enter the adjacent en of the head through its side slot.

9. An engine starter drive including a rotatable member, a driving head,said head and rotatable member having a relative movement inwardlytoward and outwardly away from each other, a drive spring be* tween suchhead and rotatable member, and means for limiting said outward movementof the head and rotatable member, said means comprising a sleeve securedto the head and provided -at one end with a flange for a portion of itscircumference and with a side slot adjacent such flange, said rotatablemember having a flange adapted to enter the adjacent end of the sleevethrough its side slot, and means for preventing disengagement of thesleeve and rotatable member after being assembled.

10. An engine starter drive including a rotatable member, a drivinghead, said head and rotatable member having a relative movement'inwardlytoward and outwardly away from each other, a drive spring between suchhead and rotatable member, and means for limiting said outward movementof the head and rotatablemember, said means comprising a sleeve securedtixedly to the head and loosely and detachably con nected with therotatable member to permit limited axial movement of the rotatablemember with respect to said head, and a second sleeve secured to therotatable member and telescoping with the first sleeve and preventingdisengagement of the latter with the rotatable member.

11. An engine starter drive including a rotatable member, a drivinghead, a coiled drive spring connecting such member and head, and twotelescoping sleeves arranged within the spring and secured respectivelyto the member and head, and one of the sleeves being loosely connectedwith said member for relative endwise movement of the latter.

12. An engine starter 'drive including a rotatable member, a drivinghead, a .coiled drive spring connecting such member` and head, and twotelescoping sleeves arranged within the spring and secured respectivelyto the member and head, said rotatable member having at one end acircumferential groove, and the sleeve which is secured to the headhaving' an end lange engaging said groove.

13. An engine starter. drive includin a rotatable member, a drivinghead, a 'coiled drive spring connecting such member and head, and twotelescoping sleeves arranged Awithin the spring and secured respectivelyto the member and head, said sleeves having inwardly directed beveledportions to accommodate t,the spring coils when wrapped down. l

14; Kn engine starter drive including a rotatable member, a drivinghead, a coiled drive spring connecting such member and head and twotelescoping sleeves arranged within thespring and secured respectivelyto the member and head, 'one of the sleeves having a reduced shellportion on which the other sleeves slide and both sleeves having beveledportions directed towards each other MAURICE P. WHITNEY.

